dual personalities

Tag: family

February 17, 2025

Postcards from a busy weekend

by chuckofish

Well, I made it up to Champaign-Urbana and back again–through fog and mist–and my new car did great! The Countryman has been broken in! Although stressful, it was well worth it to see darling daughter #2 and the Prairie Girls, not to mention DN who gassed up my car and cooked a yummy dinner. And I can report that, although she was barely speaking at Christmas, Ida is talking a blue streak (and in full sentences) now. She has quite a vocabulary!

On Friday, while Katie went to her pre-school Valentine’s Day party, Daughter #2 and Ida and I went to Costco. Ida insisted on pushing the cart.

We also went to an estate sale in Monticello and daughter #2 found the one thing in the house worth buying. I was very proud of her. She and her sister have both developed a ‘good eye’. On Friday night I babysat while the lovebirds went out for a Valentine’s Day drink. Easy peasey. I went home on Saturday because of the threatening weather and I’m glad I did as it snowed some more and was very windy on Sunday.

Meanwhile daughter #1 went to her church’s women’s retreat and Mr. Smith had a sleepover with the twins. I hear it went very well and he was a good dog…

They watched Lady and the Tramp. Daughter #1 picked him up after her retreat, and they stopped by at our house for happy hour. Then they went home where Mr. Smith mellowed out and watched a Woody Allen movie.

The OM (who did not burn the house down while I was gone) and I watched Bullitt (1968) as is our Valentine’s Day tradition. I enjoyed it very much per usual. 😍😍😍

We braved the elements and went to church on Sunday, along with most of our stalwart fellow church members. We heard a good sermon on Hebrews 10:19-25 where we were reminded “to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some…” We had a ‘fold’ meeting during adult ed time which included a zoom meeting with some missionaries we support. It’s always good to be back in the fold!

My faith has found a resting place,
From guilt my soul is freed;
I trust the ever living One,
His wounds for me shall plead.
I need no other argument,
I need no other plea,
It is enough that Jesus died,
And that He died for me.

–Eliza E. Hewitt [Lidie H. Edmunds] 1891

Have a good Monday–stay warm!

5 Comments
February 13, 2025

Onward and upward

by chuckofish

When did we start naming winter storms? I had no idea that this was a thing. We are told that Winter Storm Illiana is upon us and that Winter Storm Jett is on the way. Good grief, Charlie Brown!

I wouldn’t be concerned but I am supposed to drive up to Mahomet, IL today and return over the weekend. It appears that I might get stuck there. Does that matter? Well, I do have that DAR Presidents Day event on Monday at which daughter #1 is officiating…bad weather does complicate things, doesn’t it?

But I am motivated to see these little Valentines…

So I’ll be heading out shortly.

Meanwhile, this is important: 10 things your children should know about you. I am always amazed when people know hardly anything about their parents or grandparents because they really haven’t spent much time talking to them (about things that matter).

And this made me laugh…

So please pray for travel mercies and that Winter Storm Jett doesn’t materialize ahead of schedule!

3 Comments
February 6, 2025

Introverts at play in the fields of the Lord

by chuckofish

On Tuesday the boy dropped the little bud off at our house while he took Lottie to dance class after school. He ate his grilled cheese and fries from Mike Duffy’s and we hung out for awhile, amusing ourselves. He wondered where the Beanie Babies were and, after wracking my brain to remember where I had put them, we found them and brought them downstairs.

He thought it was great fun to take them all out as he used to do when he was little, climb in and put them all back in…

I said, you’ve grown a lot since the last time you did this! I remember when you and Lottie both fit in there with all the Beanies! Indeed.

During this time, daughter #2, along with the prairie girls, facetimed us to say hello. Ida especially was quite taken with the bud’s antics. Of course she was. She was all the heart-eye emojis. 😍

After we got off the phone, we watched the man across the street try to get his Goldendoodle to play catch with a ball. We decided to go out and engage with them, and so we put our shoes on and went out. The bud did indeed engage with the Doodle (named ‘Tator’ because he looks like a tator tot), playing catch and running all over the yard. I talked to my nice young neighbor and we exchanged phone numbers. We went back in after wearing out the Doodle and soon it was time for the bud to go home. When Lottie came in to pick up her brother, she was shocked to find that I had no candy. “But, Mamu, you always have candy!”

Mea culpa. I will be sure to rectify that situation a toute vitesse, little lady.

5 Comments
February 3, 2025

Well may we rejoice and sing

by chuckofish

It has warmed up quite a bit (thank goodness) and I got out and about this weekend. I did the flowers at church first thing on Saturday morning and then ventured down to the city to go to an estate sale. Daughter #1 and I were so adventurous! It was a nice house in Compton Heights down by St. Louis University, the same vintage (c. 1903) as the house I grew up in with three stories and lots of dark wood. We got a couple of books and a tassel curtain tieback for the window in my office. We said hey to our friend Lamar (who gave us our Lamar discount). We stopped at Straub’s on the way home and treated ourselves to lunch which we ate back at her house.

On Sunday, church was wonderful, as usual, but the communion hymn just broke me down to tears. They streamed down my face and I was such a mess at the end of the service. My son laughed at me a little, but with love.

William Cowper wrote this hymn in 1771 and it still packs a punch. The old Anglican hymns are pretty much all we have left of the Episcopal denomination, which is really sad. And I doubt if they sing this hymn anymore.

In our adult ed class we continued to learn about Francis and Edith Schaeffer and the founding of L’Abri, the French word for “shelter,” because they sought to provide a shelter from the pressures of a relentlessly secular 20th century. As time went by, so many people came that others were called to join the Schaeffers in their work, and more branches were established. Even Bob Dylan spent time there.

I had plans for after church, but everything fell apart, as sometimes happens. But it was a nice afternoon so I went over later to daughter #1’s house and enjoyed having Mr. Smith balance on my lap for some Mamu scritch-scratches until too many people had the nerve to walk by the house and he lost his doggie mind doing his Westie duty (i.e. barking).

This strikes me as very true. “Our phone has given us a constant stream of information. One thing it hasn’t given us is boredom. What if that was a costly bargain? A priceless forfeiture? What if it turns out that downtime from the fire hose of infinite data is necessary for good thinking, and for good life?”

By the way, don’t miss 31 Days of Oscar on TCM this month. The next ’31 days’ are dedicated to celebrating Academy Award-winning and nominated films leading up to the 97th annual Academy Awards, which air on March 2. I couldn’t care less about the Oscars in 2025–I haven’t seen a new movie at the movies since 2006–but there is a treasure trove to DVR this month on TCM. For instance, The Sting (1973) and Double Indemnity (1944) are on tonight!

So sing an old hymn, watch an old movie, pet a nice dog. Enjoy your Monday!

“On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.” (Zechariah 13:1)

3 Comments
January 30, 2025

“The secret ministry of frost/ Shall hang them up in silent icicles”*

by chuckofish

FYI I decided to keep my blog at WordPress and I upgraded my site, meaning I pay more now, but I am back to posting photos. Yay! I know you have missed this little fella:

Well, January is almost over and the snow is finally starting to melt, although the ice mounds left by the snow plows will be with us until March probably.

Yesterday after school, while Lottie was in dance class, the boy and the bud came over to hang out. I heard all about the bud’s first drum lesson at The School of Rock. He is definitely cool enough to be in the band**.

In other news, my Bible Study starts up today. I am happy to return to this smart group of ladies as we delve into Exodus 1-18. Time to watch The Ten Commandments (1956) I guess.

I thought this about the release of the JFK files, conspiracy theories, and the “Deep State” was very interesting.

And this is funny!

**Remember this?

*From “Frost at Midnight” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge; read the poem here.

6 Comments
January 27, 2025

And the Lord will be my portion/ In the empty wilderness*

by chuckofish

Is it still January? This month seems endless, doesn’t it? I stayed home most of last week and there was no happy hour on Friday because daughter #1 was sick (and no shampoo for Mr. Smith!) The OM and I did have a social event on Saturday night which entailed getting dressed up and driving at night, but we went and I had a very good time. We had cocktails and dinner and listened to a talk by the daughter of Vincent Price about her father who grew up in St. Louis. He was quite a character. I talked to more people and socialized more than I had all week (maybe all month).

Sunday I went to church with the boy and the twins and then we had brunch at the Sunny Side Diner, which is a favorite of ours. They had dinosaur-shaped pancakes and bacon and were ready to go to lacrosse in the afternoon, sated and full of the Holy Spirit.

I liked this article about the ministry of small things: “The ‘ministry of small things’ is consistent with how the Bible teaches us to think about God’s kingdom. In His parable of the yeast, Jesus says that the kingdom of heaven starts with something as modest as a dash of leaven. Yeast is practically invisible, and you don’t see it working, yet as it slowly permeates the dough, it has a formidable impact (Matt. 13:22). Our little works, patiently and consistently done, can bring about something big.”

I sure. like to think so.

And here’s a new song I like:

Tomorrow there will be a guest post from daughter #2, so don’t miss it!

*Wendell Kimbrough & Paul Zach

4 Comments
January 20, 2025

Skies could not blue-er be

by chuckofish

Because ice was predicted on Friday night, daughter #1 decided to hold our Saturday morning DAR meeting on Zoom instead of at the country club where we usually meet. I had not experienced a Zoom meeting since retiring in 2021, but it worked just fine, I did not suffer PTSD and daughter #1 looked very glamorous indeed.

Sunday morning we went to church in the freezing cold. I was able to wear my vintage fur coat again. The twins were there with their dad and everyone kept their depravity in check. They drew in their journals with half an ear cocked to the service and the sermon on Hebrews 9:1-14. I am very proud of them. In Sunday School they are finishing up the book of Acts. We came back to our house after church for Episcopal/Calvinist Souffle and conversation. Plus, the boy and daughter #1 got my car set up with Apple Play. I tried to read the car manual but it is all Greek to me. Cars are so complicated now and I am such an old lady! Oh well, c’est la vie. I do the best I can.

Sunday night the OM and I returned to church for our annual meeting. We elected new elders and deacons and went through the annual report. I am so blessed to be a member of this church community. I thank God every day that he has led me to this place and that, although it has taken me a long time to get here, I will finish strong.

So–a typical January weekend. I watched The Court Jester (1955), a movie that I just love. Danny Kaye et al will lighten your mood, if you need it lightened. And if you are actually feeling pretty good, as am I, it will just add to your joy. I told the twins they should watch it and they did on Sunday night–according to their Dad, they were “transfixed”–of course they were! Even the credits are great:

Meanwhile daughter #1 and I are working on getting a new blog launched, so maybe this week we’ll have something to show you. Courage, dear hearts!

3 Comments
January 17, 2025

Living proof

by chuckofish

Today is precious Ida B’s birthday! She is two! I wish I could include adorable pics in this post, but, as you know, I am over my limit. Daughter #1 and I are working on getting a new blog going, and hopefully we’ll have something next week.

My thoughtful cousin Steve just sent me the program from my Aunt Donna‘s memorial service (July 16), which I really appreciated. The service was held in her church in Andover, where she had been an active member for a very long time. Over those 60+ years I have no doubt it changed a lot, but she stuck with it until she moved up to New Hampshire. They sang all the old hymns at the service–“In the Garden”, “How Great Thou Art”, “The Old Rugged Cross”. They read the 23rd Psalm, plus Isaiah 57, Ecclesiastes 3, 1 Corinthians 13, and “selections” from John 14. The Isaiah was an interesting choice.

The picture of Donna on the front of the program really stopped me, because I thought, wow, I am aging exactly the same way–the hair, the eyes, the nose and skin. Our genes, our DNA, the same. And I have to say, looking at little Ida B., I see her sweet mother and myself and Aunt Donna. Beautiful, how that works.

The boy tells me that David Lynch has died and also ol’ Bob Uecker. We will miss them both.

It’s Friday once again. Have a good one!

Oh Darlin, pardon me
but do I look familiar
when we were just flying free
and we burned from a freight train
and we were some flicker of truth in the smile of a salesman
and we were all buried jewels ‘neath the grass in the suburbs
and we were all living proof
oh Darlin, pardon me

–Gregory Alan Isakov

3 Comments
January 15, 2025

Blue skies

by chuckofish

We are experiencing blue skies (and freezing temps) here in flyover country and the best part for me is that the sun on the snow is the perfect natural light by which to needlepoint. I sit by my large living room window and sew–easily discerning the changing colors in the intricate pattern–and listen to Sinclair Ferguson expound on scripture. What could be nicer?

Well, it’s a good way to spend an hour in between chores.

Why make so much of fragmentary blue

In here and there a bird, or butterfly,

Or flower, or wearing-stone, or open eye,

When heaven presents in sheets the solid hue?

Since earth is earth, perhaps, not heaven (as yet)—

Though some savants make earth include the sky;

And blue so far above us comes so high,

It only gives our wish for blue a whet.

–Robert Frost

Lottie is back in her dancing class routine so the boy and the wee bud were back at my house yesterday afternoon. The boy manhandled the trash bin over the ice mound left by the snow plow so I can take it down the driveway for pickup tomorrow. Much appreciated. It’s the little things, right?

And, hey, did you hear that band members of the music group Village People announced on Monday that they have accepted an invitation from President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign to be part of the Inauguration activities? Well, they did. You will recall that Village People founding member Victor Willis gave permission for President-elect Trump to use the band’s classic hit “Y.M.C.A.” at his rallies during his campaign because of its “bringing so much joy to the American people”. (The song charted again and went to #1 and stayed there for some time. The videos went viral.)

3 Comments
January 6, 2025

 Faith holds wide the door*

by chuckofish

Well, we were warned about the blizzard conditions that were coming all last week and so were prepared to be home for several days. In fact, I did not leave the house all weekend, but stayed holed up in my cozy domicile. I had plenty of wine and nibblies, so I was not overly concerned. We were lucky and largely dodged the bullet, unlike Kansas City where conditions were pretty dicey. But we did experience “thunder snow” which sent our weatherpeople into paroxysms of delight. Flyover weather–par for the course.

Church was cancelled and so I watched (on YouTube) the service from last week when we were in Mahomet. It was interesting to watch from the virtual balcony and good to see all those familiar communicants. They sang “O Little Town of Bethlehem” which was nice to hear, since we had not sung it earlier during the Christmas season. The lyrics* by Phillips Brooks are so good.

I took down all the Christmas decorations (and two trees) which is quite a job and takes hours and hours. Daughter #1 came over on Friday and helped me, but it is a multiple-day event. I’m sure I will continue to find Xmas items that have escaped my attention for weeks to come.

Today is Epiphany, so don’t forget to watch 3 Godfathers (1948). I watched it over the weekend and it is just a great, great movie. You will recall that it is a loose retelling of the biblical Three Wise Men story in an American Western context, starring John Wayne, Pedro Armendariz and Harry Carey, Jr. It is also the birthday of our lovely daughter-in-law (daughter #3). We will celebrate as soon as the roads are cleared and we can synchronize our calendars!

Here’s Sinclair Ferguson’s resolution for the Christian life. “But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

It is very frustrating not to be able to include photos on my blog and daughter #1 and I are working on figuring out what to do. I probably will be starting a new blog, perhaps on Substack, very soon, so keep checking in and I’ll let you know.

3 Comments